Outstanding Turkish American Scientists and Scholars

Dr. Ali Erdemir Honored with International Award

Dr. Ali Erdemir, TEES Eminent Professor of Texas A&M University and an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, is given the STLE International Award, which is the Society's highest technical honor and bestows lifetime honorary membership. The award is given in recognition of Dr. Erdemir's outstanding contributions in tribology, lubrication engineering or allied fields.

Dr. Daron Acemoglu Named MIT Institute Professor

Economist Daron Acemoglu, whose far-ranging research agenda has produced influential studies about government, innovation, labor, and globalization, has been named Institute Professor, MIT’s highest faculty honor. A highly productive scholar with broad portfolio of research interests, Acemoglu has spent more than 25 years at MIT examining complicated, large-scale economic questions — and producing important answers.

Professor Mete Atatüre Wins "2020 Thomas Young Medal and Prize Recipient"

Professor Mete Atatüre from Cambridge University has been presented "2020 Thomas Young Medal and Prize Recipient "for his pioneering contributions to quantum optical phenomena in semiconductors and diamond, creating new applications in quantum technologies." Professor Mete Atatüre, a graduate of Bilkent University and Boston University, is "a world-leading scientist in solid-state quantum optics, particularly renowned for developing quantum interfaces between photons and spins."

Confirm BioSciences founded by Turkish couple acquired by Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL)

Founded in 2008 by Turkish immigrants Zeynep Ilgaz and Serhat Pala, Confirm BioSciences acquired by Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), one of the most prominent clinical testing laboratories in the U.S. The couple established their company when they were post-graduate interns. Their company was listed in the "Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies" by 2013. Six years later, the company was financed by HCAP Partners, a California-based private equity firm. Recently, the scientists developed a test kit to diagnose the COVID-19 in a couple of minutes.

Dr. Egemen Kolemen Wins 2020 Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award

Dr. Egemen Kolemen, assistant professor of Princeton University has won a prestigious 2020 Excellence in Fusion Engineering award presented by Fusion Power Associates. Dr.Kolemen's research focuses on the application of dynamics and control theory to experimental plasma physics, primarily to address the challenges of fusion reactor design.

Dr. Umut Gurkan Named A Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)

Dr. Umut Gurkan, Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor of Case Western Reserve University, has been elected a senior member of the August 2020 class of The National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Gurkan's research group focuses on expanding current knowledge about hemoglobin, red blood cells, blood rheology, microcirculation in health and disease, and targeted therapies and gene-based cures. Gurkan has published more than 80 scientific publications and holds numerous U.S. patents and international patent applications. Five of his patents have been licensed and/or commercialized by four companies.